The Tuman River flows along the northern edge of Kashgar's old city, and the riverside path makes for a pleasant walk away from the bustle of the bazaar lanes. The embankment has been landscaped with benches and small gardens, and in the evening families stroll here in the cool air. The views back toward the old town are among the best in the city.
The river is also the site of the overflow from the Sunday market, which spills along the banks when the main market ground fills up. On market day you will find vendors selling livestock, fodder, and farm tools along the riverside all the way from the centre to the edge of town. The river itself is shallow and fast-moving — it drains from the Pamir plateau to the west and carries glacier melt year round.